Butterflies in Saudi Arabia

Butterflies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are insects widespread across the Kingdom. While they are considered pests to plants, they are also classified as effective pollinators of wild plants.

Butterflies in the Kingdom belong to four different species from the order 'Lepidoptera.' They visit four different types of wild plants that serve as their primary food source. Butterflies lay their eggs on these plants, which then hatch into worm-like larvae that actively feed on the leaves, stems, and buds of wild plants. As a result, they are considered pests to these plants.

The adult butterfly stage is an effective pollinator of wild plants, contributing to the pollination process for some plants and the production of seeds. This helps plants complete their life cycle and spread their populations.

Butterflies have a presence in events held in Saudi cities. At the International Saudi Falcons and Hunting Exhibition 2024, organized by the Saudi Falcons Club in Riyadh City in 2024, a rare collection of butterflies was showcased. This collection includes fifty-six butterflies gathered from three continents. It is part of a set consisting of four frames containing butterflies from various parts of the world.

Riyadh Season 2023 also offered the "Butterfly House Experience," which featured more than one thousand butterflies of various species. The Butterfly House offers an entertaining and educational experience The butterflies coexist in a humidity level of 72 percent and a temperature of twenty-seven °C. The garden features four types of butterflies, including the two-toned Dragon Butterfly, originally from Brazil; the "Costa Rican Owl Butterfly," which has a lifespan of only one week; and the multi-colored "Papolina Butterfly," native to the Philippines. The Butterfly House Experience includes an educational corner dedicated to butterflies and their development. It provides visitors with information on how butterflies absorb sugar, which is considered their sole food source.